Licensed To Drive Slower

   By drodriguez  Oct 17, 2008
59

  Is the “My Key” feature something you would consider for your teenaged driver?

Everyone remembers the excitement they felt the first time they were in the driver’s seat.  Most of you probably could not wait until you turned sixteen so you could start cruising around in your parents’ (or if you were lucky enough, your very own) car.  

Not much has changed since then.  Teenagers are still rushing out to their DMV’s the day they turn sixteen.  But, what will soon change is the amount of control a parent can keep without setting foot in their child’s car.  Starting next year the Ford Motor Co. will begin selling a tool called “My Key” to help parents limit their child’s speed while behind the wheel.

A number of the Ford 2010 models will have this standard feature called “My Key”, allowing parents to set a maximum speed capacity on the car to 80 miles per hour.  This will all be done through a computer chip inside the car key.  The key’s chip will also have a function that limits the volume on the sound system and continuously reminds the driver if he/she is not wearing their seatbelt. 

For many parents, this may be the second best thing to riding shotgun next to their son or daughter.  Jim Buczkowski, Ford’s director of electronic and electrical systems engineering explained the idea behind the latest feature for new drivers to the Associated Press.  Buczkowski said, “Our message to parents is, hey, we are providing you some conditions to give your new drivers that may allow you to feel a little more comfortable in giving them the car more often.”

 What do you think of the new technology Ford will introduce to limit a teen driver’s speed?

 

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mustangmomma by mustangmomma | Gravette, AR
Dec 08, 2008

I agree with most of you that 80 is too fast! Since I have a teen who will be driving soon, I will have to mull this idea over. I do take issue with having too many devices that give too much information about us to people who could possibly not have our best interests at heart. Chips are being sold now that let you track your kids as they drive. If I can track them, so can preditors!

raisinrom by raisinrom | Glen Gardner, NJ
Dec 05, 2008

I think it's a great idea too, but why 80 mph, that's MUCH faster than those kids should be driving. Most speed limits are 65 mph. Maybe the limit should be 60, perhaps they should be driving a bit slower anyway, until they are seasoned drivers. Why don't they just make the "limit" adjustable ?

photophatty67 by photophatty67 | McKinney, TX
Nov 23, 2008

I'd like to see it top out at 70 mph, not 80... This still won't really be enough, because they'll still drive over the speed limit many times...but I imagine it will help somewhat. At least they can only drive up to a certain speed. 80 mph is terribly fast, though.

patrossi2004 by patrossi2004 | Charlestown, RI
Nov 21, 2008

I always wondered why they have a "governor" for speed on go carts and such and not something for parents with teens and cars !! This is a product that welcome news and long overdue !!! Yea !!

TrinaH by TrinaH | Winnebago, MN
Nov 18, 2008

While the concept is great .... too bad it'll be another 10 years before most teens in this country would have access to these vehicles! I sure wouldn't buy my 16 yr old a car much newer than 10 years old... but maybe that's just me! I love the idea, would prefer a 70 mph limit over 80 mph, but good concept. Sure it won't stop them from going 80 mph in a 40 mph zone, but there is only so much a car maker can do! They can give us these little tools, but its our job as parents to teach the rest!

Texmel by Texmel | COLORADO SPGS, CO
Nov 18, 2008

What a fabulous idea. Since the stats on serious accidents for new drivers who are teens are so high, this should really help! I applaud Ford for being so forward thinking!

ranroo by ranroo | Syosset, NY
Nov 13, 2008

I would rather see the parents making the decision of what speed is max to drive at then the auto company. I don't know what place in the USA that legally allows a speed at 80mph. It should be set at 55mph!!!!

Salelann65 by Salelann65 | Saint Cloud, MN
Nov 12, 2008

I have 10 more years before I have the stress of a teenage driver, but reading something like this helps ease my mind of what it would be like lol=) Kudos to the car manufactors for developing products that will help keep our children safe!

vtangelgirl by vtangelgirl | Fairfax, VT
Nov 11, 2008

I think it's a good idea, but 80 MPH is not exactly slow, is it? I don't want my teen driving 80 MPH, I'm with the others who voiced 65 MPH. I don't see how it would save lives otherwise.

nanceym by nanceym | NORTH WALES, PA
Nov 08, 2008

This is a great idea. Almost all the teens I know have been involved in fender benders usually within the first six months of driving. Until you have that experience under your belt anything goes. Our teens are too important and this new idea seems like a great start to keeping them safe.

txgirl06 by txgirl06 | McAllen, TX
Nov 06, 2008

I lost my 17 year old cousin a few months ago in a car accident. There were no other vehicles involved, no one else in the vehicle with her, no drugs or alcohol... just excessive speeding. I am only three years older than her, and I'll admit I often drove fast and recklessly when I began driving. Car accidents are claiming too many teen lives today. Features such as this in the new Ford models could be the thing that my save your teen's life. I think that this is a wonderful idea and a great investment towards a new vehicle. I hope that people who purchase those vehicles take advantage of that feature. I only wish that these would have came out sooner. May it save many lives.

Osheres by Osheres | La Crosse, WI
Nov 06, 2008

This sounds like a really great idea. I do agree with other members though. 80mph seems a little excessive. I don't think there is ever a reason for anyone to drive that fast! Usually the top speed you find around the US is 70 mph. So.... maybe the top speed should be at the very most 70? If not 65??? It doesn't hurt to go 5 mph less than the posted speed limit. Plus it saves on gas!

jbirdstorey by jbirdstorey | Cummig, GA
Nov 03, 2008

I have a 19 year old and a 15 year old. When my 19 year old started driving I knew in my heart he was not mature enough to be behind the wheel of a car. I made him call me from his cell from every destination he arrived at and before he left to come back home. I was a wreck for a year, if not more. Now my 15 year old wants to go get her permit, and I'm about to go through it all again. This is a terrific idea, but the downside is you have to purchase a new car. Too bad the manufactures can't produce something to attach to older models.

jmsargent by jmsargent | Honey Brook, PA
Nov 02, 2008

Ok, my view on this is that if you take a look at the "big trucks" that have a govern on them, there are many ways for the driver's / companies to get arounds the system. It is my belief that it would not be long until these kids would find a way to "beat the system". The kids today are smart, really smart. It does not take them long to figure things out.

JOnTheGo by JOnTheGo | WESTLAND, MI
Nov 02, 2008

I can understand the concern about 80 miles an hour; however, there are freeways that allow 75 miles/hour.